:00:00. > :00:11.A reminder of the main story, Rolf Harris is beginning a
:00:12. > :00:14.of the world 's greatest bike race. It is here where the Tour dd France
:00:15. > :00:28.It is here where the Tour de France Clark will really start to take
:00:29. > :00:37.It's pouring down with rain but we don't care. This is the offhcial
:00:38. > :00:40.start line of the Tour de France. We will be showing you last`minute
:00:41. > :00:43.preparations across Yorkshire as the county gets ready to stage the
:00:44. > :00:46.world's a guest sporting evdnt. county gets ready to stage the
:00:47. > :00:47.world's a guest sporting event. We world's a guest sporting event. We
:00:48. > :00:55.will find out what the cyclhsts have will find out what the cyclhsts have
:00:56. > :01:15.been doing to do today stop all the rain stop this weekend?
:01:16. > :01:24.Millions of people throughott the world will be watching this. Kathy
:01:25. > :01:43.Kelly has been flagging out how ready we really are.
:01:44. > :01:50.It only got a population of 500 but this little village has embraced the
:01:51. > :01:59.tour and then giving it French kisses. It's not just flags, there
:02:00. > :02:06.is a fairground and a food court. People are very happy to have the
:02:07. > :02:14.race here. Between us we have organised this incredible event. So
:02:15. > :02:32.will it be worth the fuss? Here are the vital statistics.
:02:33. > :02:40.Here's one business experiencing a bonanza. This company makes flags
:02:41. > :02:46.and bunting. They'd had 20 times their normal orders. We didn't
:02:47. > :02:54.expect the volume of orders. People want to be involved with thd whole
:02:55. > :02:59.process. A lot of people who don't even know about cycling still want
:03:00. > :03:07.to be involved. You couldn't get more community involvement then here
:03:08. > :03:09.in York. This picture will go on display on Sunday. The helicopters
:03:10. > :03:16.will be global. I'm a big bdliever will be global. I'm a big believer
:03:17. > :03:23.in community spirit. That's really come out in this project. It is a
:03:24. > :03:31.metaphor for what working together can do. Just paint, plywood and
:03:32. > :03:39.people. Of course, it is people who will make the tour. It's gohng to be
:03:40. > :03:50.brilliant. I think it is fantastic for Yorkshire. We can't get out
:03:51. > :03:57.because the roads are shot. We may as well just enjoy it. Ill have a
:03:58. > :04:06.barbecue in the garden. What a ride it is going to be. The final
:04:07. > :04:09.flourish, 60 policemen from Paris. A massive day for the whole county of
:04:10. > :04:15.Yorkshire. One of the biggest days in our history. I'm looking forward
:04:16. > :04:18.to it very much. I'm proud of the work the people have done. The stage
:04:19. > :04:35.is set for the Grand Depart. Where will the tour be going? Here's
:04:36. > :04:40.a reminder. The riders leave Leeds town
:04:41. > :04:42.hall just after 11.ooam and they proceed to Harewood House
:04:43. > :04:45.where the race officially starts It then goes through Ilkley and
:04:46. > :04:51.reaches Skipton by about 12.45pm. It is then into the Dales and they
:04:52. > :04:54.are estimated to me to reach Then onto one of the biggest hills,
:04:55. > :05:00.Cote de Buttertubs half Then it's past Ripon to finhsh
:05:01. > :05:11.on the straight in Harrogate. Date two starts at York racdcourse
:05:12. > :05:14.at 11.00am and goes to Knaresborough It's then onto Addingham, rdaching
:05:15. > :05:22.Keighley at 1.00pm before tackling the cobbled main streets of Howarth
:05:23. > :05:27.and the long climb up Cragg Vale. They are expected in Huddersfield
:05:28. > :06:00.just before 2.30pm. Action here, there are 20,000
:06:01. > :06:04.campers in these fields over the next couple of days. But wh`t is
:06:05. > :06:04.campers in these fields over the next couple of days. But what is it
:06:05. > :07:38.like around the rest of the route. Harrogate. This is where
:07:39. > :07:43.Yorkshire's Grand Depart will come to a 60 mph initiative. It should be
:07:44. > :07:45.gripping. Over my shoulder hs to a 60 mph initiative. It should be
:07:46. > :07:51.gripping. Over my shoulder hs the finish line. That is the dream
:07:52. > :07:51.gripping. Over my shoulder is the finish line. That is the drdam that
:07:52. > :07:52.finish line. That is the dream that Mark Cavendish is going to have this
:07:53. > :08:08.evening. Remember, his mum is a Harrogate
:08:09. > :08:10.girl herself. He is going to have some company on his shoulder as he
:08:11. > :08:26.comes down here. It should be quite a contest.
:08:27. > :08:28.Whoever is on the podium is not predictable. It is impossible to
:08:29. > :08:50.forecast. This is clamping at its best, but we
:08:51. > :08:57.have some fabulous barbecue is going on. So, you are a pro
:08:58. > :09:00.So, you have done your training, the mechanics have worked
:09:01. > :09:03.on your bike and you have pinned your race number on your jersey
:09:04. > :09:06.What else do Tour de France riders do in the final 24 hours
:09:07. > :09:09.Well, the pupils of Kingfisher Primary School in Doncaster have
:09:10. > :09:12.been invited to meet the riders and staff of the Kazakh`based Astana
:09:13. > :09:23.Our Tour correspondent Matt Slater has tagged along too.
:09:24. > :09:32.the eve of battle. A time to check your weapon and make sure you have a
:09:33. > :09:38.knife kit. As every army marches on its stomach. And here they come, a
:09:39. > :09:52.crack team of cyclists. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I
:09:53. > :09:59.shall begin. This bus drives all over Europe. The bus is a mobile
:10:00. > :10:07.changing room, Sanctuary and snack shop.
:10:08. > :10:15.These bikes require a mobile home of the own and lots of special
:10:16. > :10:21.attention. But somebody has to write them. Nine of the world's bdst
:10:22. > :10:26.them. Nine of the world's best cyclists. We have been imprdssed by
:10:27. > :10:32.cyclists. We have been impressed by the hospitality of the people here.
:10:33. > :10:39.And the way that they treat us, especially on the roads. It has been
:10:40. > :10:43.a good few days. We hope that especially on the roads. It has been
:10:44. > :10:49.a good few days. We hope th`t the coming days will be even better.
:10:50. > :10:54.What did you think of today? It was really good fun. Would you like to
:10:55. > :10:59.be a professional cyclist? No, I don't think so. What was yotr
:11:00. > :11:14.favourite bit of today. What an inside these childrdn are
:11:15. > :11:18.getting just hours before the biggest annual sporting event. And
:11:19. > :11:23.what better symbol of friendship is there between South Yorkshire and
:11:24. > :11:32.this team of Italian and Danish riders than the humble loom and.
:11:33. > :11:38.Over the next couple of days they will be putting themselves to the
:11:39. > :11:42.test on some of Yorkshire's most challenging roads. And we know how
:11:43. > :11:43.dangerous some of those clotds can dangerous some of those clouds can
:11:44. > :11:57.be. Steep gradients and shop ends. On a
:11:58. > :12:02.good day this stretch of ro`d Steep gradients and shop ends. On a
:12:03. > :12:05.good day this stretch of road is good day this stretch of ro`d is
:12:06. > :12:09.exciting cycling territory. Within two days rain it is also fr`ught
:12:10. > :12:14.two days rain it is also fraught with real danger. Over half a dozen
:12:15. > :12:21.riders have already come seriously unstuck. One cyclist had to be
:12:22. > :12:33.airlifted to hospital. As you can see, the bikes come down
:12:34. > :12:36.off that top ridge really quickly before hitting this S end. One
:12:37. > :12:47.cyclist hit this bend here `nd hit cyclist hit this bend here and hit
:12:48. > :12:51.the catchment bends, slipped over the top and rolled and stopped on
:12:52. > :12:55.the ledge over a precipice which drops 18 feet straight down.
:12:56. > :13:02.Even professional riders have erred the complaints and concerns about
:13:03. > :13:08.how dangerous they can be. It can be very dangerous on the
:13:09. > :13:21.descent. When you ride through the descent. When you ride throtgh the
:13:22. > :13:24.more dangerous roads. The Yorkshire ambulance strike for most of the
:13:25. > :13:28.weekend has prompted an ambtlance weekend has prompted an ambulance
:13:29. > :13:32.crews to step up their own cover. We've hired a third aircraft to
:13:33. > :13:39.cover the race. We have taken the cover the race. We have taken the
:13:40. > :13:44.decision to base an aircraft were the race is travelling. The message
:13:45. > :13:49.from rescue workers is clear. Have one would take extra care. It's
:13:50. > :13:54.one would take extra care. Ht's worse today. We have a greasy road
:13:55. > :13:58.and the wind does not help. We would appreciate that the art lots of
:13:59. > :14:24.signs of warning about the corners. Well, bookies are bracing themselves
:14:25. > :14:27.for a pay`out if Mark Cavendish wins William Hill are offering 3/1, the
:14:28. > :14:31.biggest odds in the industrx, that And no one will be happier
:14:32. > :14:36.if he takes that yellow jersey in Harrogate than his uncle
:14:37. > :14:50.Russell Davidson. I asked him what Marc Bosman mindset
:14:51. > :15:02.was now. This is probably the most mentally taxing for him. Will the
:15:03. > :15:03.family wanting to perform in an extra special weight because it
:15:04. > :15:03.family wanting to perform in an extra special weight becausd it is
:15:04. > :15:14.extra special weight because it is Harrogate? He has a bond to this
:15:15. > :15:15.place. Yes he does. He and his brother as young kids would
:15:16. > :15:18.frequently come to stay here. brother as young kids would
:15:19. > :15:20.frequently come to stay herd. They frequently come to stay here. They
:15:21. > :15:23.have fond memories of going around the Dales. We just want thel to be
:15:24. > :15:27.the Dales. We just want them to be safe because they are travelling at
:15:28. > :15:39.speeds. What would your emotions be? I'll be jumping up in the air. I
:15:40. > :15:41.be ecstatic. He's probably going to start the last ten kilometres and
:15:42. > :15:42.start the last ten kilometrds and will be on tenterhooks the whole
:15:43. > :15:56.way. The Prime Minister is now in the
:15:57. > :16:05.county. He told me Elliott that he will be watching the Grand Depart
:16:06. > :16:10.from Harrogate with his famhly. I asked if he thought this would be a
:16:11. > :16:14.defining moment for Yorkshire. There will be billions around the world
:16:15. > :16:19.watching the start of the Tour de France here in Yorkshire. It is
:16:20. > :16:24.quite right for Britain to host it because we aren't now a leading
:16:25. > :16:27.cycling nation. There is a north`south divide in Yorkshire
:16:28. > :16:31.needs more events like this. How can you help us achieve that. The
:16:32. > :16:35.government needs to get behhnd sporting events like this. This
:16:36. > :16:37.isn't the only thing we havd got isn't the only thing we havd got
:16:38. > :16:43.going. After the Olympics we have going. After the Olympics wd have
:16:44. > :16:50.the, well games in Glasgow. We have the Rugby World Cup coming to
:16:51. > :16:54.England in 2015. Then the athletics championship in 2017 at the Olympic
:16:55. > :16:58.Park. What do you think the legacy will be? I think it will cole
:16:59. > :17:02.Park. What do you think the legacy will be? I think it will come in
:17:03. > :17:04.parts. There is an economic legacy. There will be a sporting legacy
:17:05. > :17:09.because young people will watch this because young people will w`tch this
:17:10. > :17:11.event and many people will take up cycling. That is very important.
:17:12. > :17:13.cycling. That is very important There will be a health and fitness
:17:14. > :17:25.bonus, too. Take a look at this. Have you ever
:17:26. > :17:27.seen a tent like it? There hs a leopard skin rug there. We even have
:17:28. > :17:32.leopard skin rug there. We dven have a blow`up couch. This is a
:17:33. > :17:36.beautiful, calming environmdnt for a beautiful, calming environment for a
:17:37. > :17:46.bride`to`be. We have one with us now. She is getting married
:17:47. > :17:47.tomorrow. So your big day is tomorrow and you are getting married
:17:48. > :17:53.in Harrogate. Are you mad? A little. in Harrogate. Are you mad? @ little.
:17:54. > :17:55.We are getting married at 9am and We are getting married at 9`m and
:17:56. > :17:57.then spending the day watching the then spending the day watching the
:17:58. > :18:01.race. What other plans? Abott then spending the day watchhng the
:18:02. > :18:01.race. What other plans? About 6am then spending the day watching the
:18:02. > :18:05.race. What other plans? Abott 6am I race. What other plans? About 6am I
:18:06. > :18:11.think. Walk across to the rdgistry think. Walk across to the registry
:18:12. > :18:17.office for 9am and then after the ceremony down to watch the start of
:18:18. > :18:22.the race on the big screen. We have a meal but for the evening will stop
:18:23. > :18:34.you going to be in the full white dress? I am. We are going to be
:18:35. > :18:40.traditional. Are you a big cycling fan yes, my boyfriend and I said we
:18:41. > :18:56.would always go to the tour one day. Oscar, you won the tour. Wh`t is
:18:57. > :19:03.going through the minds of the cyclists right now. The Tour de
:19:04. > :19:06.France is the biggest race hn cyclists right now. The Tour de
:19:07. > :19:09.France is the biggest race in the world and everyone is trainhng
:19:10. > :19:09.France is the biggest race hn the world and everyone is training for
:19:10. > :19:18.world and everyone is trainhng for it. What has Yorkshire been like
:19:19. > :19:23.from your point of view? Have you been impressed? Sorry, I don't
:19:24. > :19:45.understand. Do you think Mark Cavendish can get
:19:46. > :19:48.the yellow jersey? For me, tomorrow there are many possible riders who
:19:49. > :19:58.there are many possible riddrs who could win it. It's been lovely
:19:59. > :20:01.could win it. It's been lovdly talking to you about. Not everybody
:20:02. > :20:10.is as laid`back as these two. Well not everyone's as laid back
:20:11. > :20:12.as Jeanette and there will be nearly 1,000 roads
:20:13. > :20:16.closed for the Tour at various times Your BBC local radio station has
:20:17. > :20:19.extra travel bulletins and key public information to help
:20:20. > :20:21.you get around, whether you're And there's also a Tour de France
:20:22. > :20:26.in Yorkshire page on the BBC website with information,
:20:27. > :20:41.news and features about the Tour. We are all looking forward to the
:20:42. > :20:46.start of the tour will stop we are told there will be 20,000 pdople or
:20:47. > :20:48.so here. It has gone very sloothly and the rain has stopped for the
:20:49. > :20:53.moment. I think we should have and the rain has stopped for the
:20:54. > :20:59.moment. I think we should have a lie down on this luxury bed. Whdre we
:21:00. > :21:00.are camping world be like this. Let's find out what the weather will
:21:01. > :21:17.be like. The rain has eased off. We are going
:21:18. > :21:19.to go straight to the graphics. There will be rain around fhrst
:21:20. > :21:24.There will be rain around first thing in the morning. That will ease
:21:25. > :21:30.off gradually. By the time we get a late morning it should brighten up
:21:31. > :21:35.quite nicely. Saturday afternoon looks lovely. But Sunday, it is a
:21:36. > :21:43.sunny morning with scattered showers. One of two will be heavy.
:21:44. > :21:47.All in all, once the patchy rain clears the weekend does not not too
:21:48. > :21:56.bad. This evening we will sde this bad. This evening we will sde this
:21:57. > :22:00.rain easing off but then a pull some really heavy rain will push up from
:22:01. > :22:05.the south`west overnight. That will move out of the way and leave us
:22:06. > :22:08.with drizzle and light rain. Temperatures around 16 Celshus. For
:22:09. > :22:17.tomorrow, it is a cloudy, damp start tomorrow, it is a cloudy, damp start
:22:18. > :22:18.with patchy rain, drizzle and mist. It will improve and turn drx
:22:19. > :22:18.with patchy rain, drizzle and mist. It will improve and turn dry through
:22:19. > :22:25.It will improve and turn drx through the morning and then skies will
:22:26. > :22:26.brighten. A big clearance after midday with lots of sunshine
:22:27. > :22:26.brighten. A big clearance after midday with lots of sunshind for
:22:27. > :22:26.brighten. A big clearance after midday with lots of sunshine for the
:22:27. > :22:31.midday with lots of sunshind for the afternoon. Temperatures not bad.
:22:32. > :22:40.They will be around 18 or 18 They will be around 18 or 18
:22:41. > :22:45.Celsius. Sunday will have a sunny start with scattered showers later.
:22:46. > :22:49.The early part of next week is similar. Rumour has it you do
:22:50. > :22:52.sharing a tent tonight. Defhnitely sharing a tent tonight. Definitely
:22:53. > :23:04.not. We will leave you with some of the
:23:05. > :23:05.images that tell us you are looking forward to something rather special
:23:06. > :23:18.this weekend. Every little town has embraced the
:23:19. > :23:29.Tour de France. You see bikds Tour de France. You see bikds
:23:30. > :23:39.everywhere. It's very impressive. It will be tremendous.